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Broken hearts arent just a romantic notion
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Broken-heart syndrome is a real thing, and it can impact you at any moment you feel too much emotion. Here's why. - photo by Herb Scribner
A new study says that yes, its possible for you to suffer from a broken heart.

Only its not the kind Taylor Swift and One Direction sing about.

Researchers recently found in a study that women suffer whats called broken-heart syndrome a medical issue that feels like and is similar to a heart attack, even when a patient doesnt have any cardiovascular issues mostly because they also have issues with their nervous system.

Specifically, the study found those who suffer from broken-heart syndrome often have an impaired parasympathetic nervous system, the part of the nervous system responsible for helping the body calm down, The Wall Street Journal reported. Or, in other words, they feel heavy waves of emotion that cant be calmed.

Most of the time, researchers say, this is brought on by emotional stress, whether it be anger, anxiety or physical stresses, The Wall Street Journal reported. For some, theres no specific cause. It can just happen.

It is a romantic notion, but you really can get this from heartache, Dr. Harmony Reynolds, lead author of the study, wrote in the research.

Broken-heart syndrome can also be brought on by joy and excitement, The Wall Street Journal reported. This was the case for Vera Companion, who felt an intense pain in her chest despite having no sign of clogged arteries during a high school pep rally.

Bad marriages can also create heart health issues, including hypertension and high blood pressure, that can also lead to broken-heart syndrome, Lois Collins of Deseret News National reported. This is based on a study from Michigan State University that found older spouses specifically are at risk for these issues, especially when they suffer from cardiovascular problems.

In total, about 6,230 people were hospitalized for broken-heart syndrome in 2012, a study from The American Journal of Cardiology found. Women accounted for more than 90 percent of the cases, and most of these attacks happened for people between the ages of 65 to 84 years old.

So far, research hasnt found a cure to this sort of broken heart. While getting over an ex-partner may seem as simple as listening to some Avril Lavigne and letting the time pass with some Ben & Jerrys, healing from the actual medical condition mentioned above is a much harder task. In fact, a study done in 2010 found that time doesnt heal a broken heart, Newsweek reported.

The researchers specifically followed broken-heart patients for four months after their attack and found the heart didnt heal as quickly as they thought. In fact, these patients, mainly women, continued to feel weak, could not take part in strenuous activity and many could not return to work for an extended period of time after experiencing the syndrome, Newsweek reported.

Specifically, researchers found that the heart, which swells up during one of these attacks and loses the ability to provide energy, was still swollen and hadnt returned to its normal energy levels.

As researchers look for a cure to the issue, some medical professionals have provided tips to help patients recover from a broken heart. Most treatments look to push more blood flow to the heart to avoid a similar attack, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute explained.

Doctors will also sometimes prescribe medicines that are used to treat high blood pressure, blood clots and stress hormones, the NHLBI explained.

And some medical professionals will suggest patients make changes to their lifestyle, mainly by finding ways to cope with stress and upsetting situations, the NHLBI explained. This can include increased physical activity, relaxation therapy or stress management classes.

Broken heart syndrome can be life threatening in some cases. Because the syndrome involves severe heart muscle weakness, patients can experience shock, heart failure, low blood pressure, and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities, the NHLBI reported. The good news is that this condition improves very quickly, so with proper diagnosis and management, even the most critically ill tend to make a quick and complete recovery."
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.